Jog On: How Running Saved My Life

Jog On: How Running Saved My Life is a book by Bella Mackie. It is presented as a personal account centred on running and mental health.

Synopsis

Divorced and living with deep-rooted mental health problems, Bella Mackie describes reaching the end of her twenties in tears and struggling to find the strength to get off the sofa. She recounts how, one day, she put on trainers and went for a run for the first time by choice, even though the initial attempt was short.

Returning the next day and the day after, she began setting herself manageable targets, including running 5k in under 30 minutes, walking to work every day for a week and completing 10 push-ups in a row. With what she describes as hilarious and unfiltered honesty, she explains how running helped her battle anxiety and depression while keeping her main loves: booze, cigarettes and ice cream. Alongside input from doctors, psychologists, sportspeople and friends, the book also shares stories, research and tips about exercise as a form of support.